Third Venetian-Ottoman War (jul 23, 1537 – oct 2, 1540)

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Venetian-Ottoman relations had been reaching a crisis, with the last Habsburg stronghold in Dalmatian falling. The Ottomans laid siege to the Venetian island of Cofu, breaking the peace treaty, though they failed to break through. Pope Paul III resolved to form a Holy League in 1538 to defend against expected Ottoman aggression. He secured Holy Roman Emperor Charles V's support and that of Spain, while Venice were more reluctant but agreed to join in the end. The Ottomans turned to the Venetian possession in the Aegean, taking most of them, before focusing on the Adriatic, securing their hold on Dalmatia. The Ottomans won the most important battle, the Battle of Préveza through superior tactics and management, ending any Holy League hopes of attacking Ottoman territory. A peace treaty was signed between Venice and Ottomans in 1540, but the war was particularly painful for the Venetians who lost most of their remaining foreign holdings and the supremacy of the sea passed to the Ottomans.

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